-
Strong Breeze can blow away Chepstow rivals
-
Flying Fred fancied to go one better
-
Cheekpieces can work the oracle
-
Read all about Betfair's Christmas weekend free bet offer here
Chepstow, 13.05 - Back Ballybreeze @ 11/26.50
A lack of rain during the Christmas period and a drying cold wind could mean conditions at Chepstow for the Welsh National meeting are quicker than is usually the case.
The prospect of a sounder surface than normal could play to the strengths of Ballybreeze who relished good ground to score tidily twice in the spring for trainer Sam Drinkwater.
Of late, the selection has often benefited from a run to put him straight fitness wise and that again looked the case at Cheltenham at the Paddy Power meeting when he faded after showing up well in the race won by Triple Trade.
Ballybreeze has produced two of his career best effort at the Welsh venue and the booking of Sean Bowen speaks for itself on a horse who remains feasibly handicapped.
Back Ballybreeze to Win 13:05 Chepstow
Leopardstown, 15.00 - Midnight Our Fred each-way @ 12/113.00
Connections reach for the first time cheekpieces for Midnight Our Fred who bids to go one better than his highly creditable second in this corresponding race 12 months ago.
Of those that raced prominently, the eight-year-old performed the best and it's worth recalling that subsequent Grand National winner Nick Rockett, who was also ridden forward, couldn't keep tabs with the selection and faded into fourth.
Midnight Our Fred subsequently disappointed at Cheltenham in March but never looked a happy horse that day so maybe the travelling was an issue and he made a perfectly satisfactory return to action over hurdles at Cork last month.
Winging around Leopardstown on decent ground appears to agree with him and his Tramore stable have enjoyed a good campaign from a select band of horses so he ought to be on the scene again with six places up for grabs.
Back Midnight Our Fred, E/W 6 Places, in 15:00 Leopardstown